In the picture book, the narrator finds an old letter hidden in the drawer of a desk he is renovating. The letter tells the story of the 1914 Christmas Day truce in the Belgian battlefields of World War I. It is the last letter written by a young British officer to his wife. This is a touching story and the illustrations beautifully and sensitively reflect this.

This Picture Book Explorers pack takes you to Dorset, UK as well as Belgium, Europe. It includes information about both the author, Michael Morpurgo, and the illustrator, Michael Foreman.

Your child can

-learn how both Belgium and Dorset have changed since 1914;

-develop creative writing skills;

-practice letter writing;

-perform cold weather experiments;

-learn how to identify trees in winter;

-make a time capsule;

-draw Christmas symbols;

-learn about the importance of colour value;

taste regional food and more.

This pack allows you to tailor the activities to give a personalised learning adventure for your child.